West Indies plunges to new depths

By Andrew Ramsay

SYDNEY, JAN. 23. The West Indies on Tuesday plummeted to new depths of ineptitude when it was bowled out for its second-lowest one-day international total by fellow struggler Zimbabwe at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

In an extraordinary relegation match in which both teams struggled to under-perform each other, the West Indies produced its most pathetic effort of a forgettable tour when it was routed for 91 in response to Zimbabwe's 138.

It was only four runs better than its lowest-ever total of 87 set at the same venue against Australia eight years ago, and only the third time in 412 one-day internationals it has been bowled out for less than 100. So woeful was its batting it overshadowed a memorable all-round performance of Zimbabwean skipper Heath Streak who top- scored with 45 in his team's inadequate innings and produced one of the finest one-day bowling efforts of four for eight from eight overs.

``It was just one of those dream days, I kept thinking I would wake up and find it was all a dream,'' Streak said after the match.

Perversely, the result could be the one to spark a flicker of interest in this triangular one-day series now that the West Indies and Zimbabwe are tied at one win apiece in the race to decide who plays Australia in next month's finals.

Thursday's return clash at Adelaide Oval could even attract a greater crowd than the 8474 sprinkled throughout the SCG in the knowledge the bantam-weights are so evenly matched.

Embattled West Indies captain Jimmy Adams could not have foreseen the horrors that awaited him when he sent the Africans in to bat on a flat if bouncy strip under a scorching Sydney sun.

On the strength of Cameron Cuffy's best-ever one-day bowling figures (four for 24) and some indifferent Zimbabwean batting, the Windies enjoyed some rare moments of superiority as the opposition top-order crashed.

Unable to cope with the extra bounce, the batsmen provided West Indies wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs with catching practice and his five dismissals equalled the record for a West Indian in a one- day international.

At eight for 88 with 20 overs to bowl, Zimbabwe appeared headed for its lowest one-day score (previously 94 against Pakistan four years ago) until Streak's timely innings.

The skipper, who topped his team's one-day batting averages on the recent tour of New Zealand, compiled an invaluable 45 from 70 balls before he holed out to deep mid-on to finish the innings. Its total of 138 was hardly challenging but it had at least saved it from abject embarrassment.

The West Indies got away to its usual disastrous start, but this time there was no slowing the carnage until Adams and Nixon McLean joined forces for the ninth wicket.

By that stage the score was a stunning eight for 31 after Streak and Bryan Strang had cut a swathe through the once great Windies by utilising the bounce which had become even more pronounced under the SCG lights.

Four of the top eight batsmen failed to score and by the time McLean joined his beleaguered skipper none of them had passed double figures as the Zimbabwe fieldsmen hung on to every chance that came their way. But McLean ensured the 43 made by Pakistan against a then-powerful West Indies in South Africa eight years ago remained the lowest one-day international total with some lusty hitting off medium-pacer Guy Whittall.

McLean, whose previous highest international score on this tour was 17, belted 19 including four consecutive boundaries off Whittall's second over to send the message the once-proud kings of cricket weren't completely dead.

Between them the pair put together a stand of 60 from 91 balls before Adams was deceived by Mluleki Nkala and offered a simple return catch. Two balls later it was all over and those who thought the West Indies fortunes could not fall any lower were left to think again.

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Section  : Sport
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